Miller County Farmer of the Month for August is Edward Alan Epps

TEXARKANA, Ark. –For August, the Farmer of the Month that we would like to honor and show gratitude
toward is Edward Alan Epps.

Mr. Epps graduated from Foreman High School in 1997 and attended classes at Texarkana
Community College.

He has been around farming his entire life. His grandfather was a major influence
on Mr. Epps wanting to get into farming. He has farmed on his own for the past 10
years. He says hehas always loved being in the field.

His favorite part of farming is planting a crop and watching it grow.

When asked what he thinks is most important for the public to know about the commodities
he produces, he replied, “All of what we produce feeds the world’s population, whether
it be for direct human consumption, such as rice, or corn for chicken feed, and wheat
for pastries and bread."

He is married to Stacey and has a daughter, Hailey, 10 years of age and a son, Braxton,
5 years old. He says that Braxton goes with him every chance he gets and loves riding
the combine and sprayer.

He produces wheat, corn, soybeans and rice; however, because of the wet spring and
low prices, he was not able to plant rice this year.

Edward Alan farms approximately 3,000 acres in Bowie County, 3,000 acres in Miller
County, and 1,000 acres in Little River County. When asked about how the flood has
affected him, he says that he lost all of his crops in Bowie and Little River Counties
this year. “It’s really been a tough year.”

There were many farmers, much like Mr. Epps, who were affected adversely by the flooding
this spring and many times we forget to express our gratitude to them for their hard
work and dedication to supplying a need in almost every area of our lives. Farming
is not for the faint of heart and the diligence they show in these difficult times
is a testament to their dedication and heart. Be sure to thank a farmer because they
produce so many of the products and necessities we use on a daily basis.

Farm Facts:

During the Civil War, soybeans were used in place of coffee because real coffee was
scarce.

There are more than 3,500 different uses for corn, and is in all sorts of products
from peanut butter to batteries.

Rice is a symbol of life and fertility, which is why rice was traditionally thrown
at weddings.

One acre of wheat can produce enough flour to furnish a family of four with bread
for nearly ten years.

By Jennifer Caraway County Extension Agent - AgricultureThe Cooperative Extension ServiceU of A System Division of Agriculture

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access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to
participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension
office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

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persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national
origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information,
or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Employer.